Improvement in electric meters for measuring the current of electricity



J. B. FULLER. r V Electric Meter for Measuring the Current ofEleetrieity No. 210,316. Patented Nov. 26,1878.

N-PETERS, PHOTO-UTMOGRAPNERI WASHINGTON, D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JIM BILLINGS FULLER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC METERS FOR MEASURING THE CURRENT 0F ELECTRICITY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,316, dated November26, 1878; application filed November 14, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JIM BILLINGS FULLER, of Brooklyn, New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Meters, of which thefollowing is a specification:

The characteristic feature of this invention is the employment ofelectromagnetic mechanism, operated by the current which produces thelight in such a manner as to automatically indicate andregister thenumber of hours of illumination, or other convenient units ofmeasurement, whereby the value of the light may be computed.

This invention maybe used in connection with electric lamps workingdirect from the electric generator, or it may be used in connection withlamps working in secondary circuits. It may be used with each lamp, orit may be placed near the generator in the main circuit, and registerfor all the lamps in the district supplied by the generator; and theapparatus must be operated in the circuit of an electric current flowingalternately in opposite directions. An armature of polarized steel isplaced between these magnets, and connected by levers or other suitablecontrivances with a ratchet or escapement, or other convenient device,whereby the motion of the armature will produce a forward movement ofthe registering mechanism, which may be of any convenient construction.

In the drawing, A represents two electromagnets, coiled and connected,so as to pro duce the polarity shown at N and S while the currents flowin one direction, and so as to produce opposite polarity when the saidcurrents are reversed. These electro-magnets are included in and form aportion of the circuit B with the lamp or lamps O.

D is asteel armature, permanently magnetized with polarity, as shown,and is arranged between the poles of the electro-magnets. This armatureis attached to a lever, I), having a pawl, which engages a ratchet inconnection with the registering apparatus, so that the movement of thearmature caused by the change of polarity of the electro-magnetsproduced by the alternating of the currents will impart a forwardmovement to the registering mechanism. Any other form of electro-magnetmay be used which will cause the vibratory motion of the polarizedarmature.

I am aware that the electric current has been employed for movingclock-work, and for measuring time and for measuring numbers, andindicating and registering the same. Therefore I do not claim themovement of clock work or other mechanism by the electric current.

I claim- In an electric-lighting system in which the light is producedby alternating currents, an electro-magnet placed in the main or inducedcurrent circuit, or in a shunt therewith con nected and having apolarized armature, the Vibrations of which actuate atrain ofregisterwheels, substantially as and for the purpose Specified.

JIM BILLINGS FULLER.

Witnesses:

ANDREW W. KENT, G. H. HINNAN.

